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The Advent 
Modem Spiritualism 

or 
Great Oaks from Acorns Grow 

(A PLAYLET) 

By 
MARY C. VLASEK 




Published by 
THE AUSTIN PUBLISHING CO. 

Los Angeles, Cai. 
1918 



.6;^ 



^^4 



Copyright 1918, by 
Mary C. Vlasek 



APR -8 1213 

©G1.D 49285 



TMP92-007464 



FOREWORD 

Q 

This play has been written with the thought of present- 
ing to the public in a simple way, The Manner in Which 
Spiritualism Originated. In order to do this the best 
references have been consulted to serve the historical 
facts. The plot has digressed as little as possible from 
these facts. 

The play was received inspirationally at 3 o'clock A.M. 
on Friday morning, Jan. 18, 1918. 

There is no part of it changed from the original. 

The Author. 



THE ADVENT OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM 

PLAYLET. 

By Mary C. Vlasek, January 18, 1918. 

Scene: The Fox Cottage. Time: March, 1848. 

CHARACTERS: 
Mr. Michael Weekman and wife. 
Charles B. Rosma, the pedler. 
Sam Bowers. 
John D. Fox, father. 
Mrs. Fox, mother. 
David Fox, age 17. 
Cathy Fox, age 9. 
Margaretta Fox, age 11. 
Leah Fox, age 19. 
Rev. Samuel Higgins, minister. 
Church members who hold prayer meeting: Samantha 

Allen, Mary S Smith, Mr. Allen, Mr. Brown, 

Amanda Coons. 
These hold first circle: Amanda Coons, Rose Smith, 

John White, Maggie Black, James Green, Ann Jones, 

Patrick Casey, Sam Bowers. 
George Fish, who afterwards married Leah. 

CHARACTERS OF THE PLAYLET: 

Peddler — Should have a pack with straps to fasten it to 
his shoulders, cap, short overcoat, mitts. 

Sam Bowers — Work clothes, in shirt sleeves, blue shirt 
with white stripes. 

Michael Weekman — Plain clothes, hair somewhat gray. 

Mrs. Weekman — Very plain full skirt and plain waist, 
hair put up in waterfall style. Should put on shawl 

5 



and scarf over her head when they go out. Mr. 

Weekman puts on overcoat and cap. 
Mr. Fox — Has ax and short coat and cap. In-doors he 

wears short coat. 
Mrs. Fox — Very full skirt. Blue and white apron in 

first scene, but at prayer meeting she should wear 

a white apron, hair parted in the middle, combed 

back and fastened in the back with a comb. 
Leah — Full dress skirt, rather long, and white apron. 

Hair also parted in the middle. 
Margaretta and Cathy both have full dresses of checked 

goods. Cathy wears an apron of pink calico over 

her shoulders. 
David — Wears work clothes. Has pail and armful of 

wood. 
George Fish — Overcoat, smooth face and mittens. 
Rev. S. Higgins — Long coat, whiskers, glasses, Bible, very 

solemn voice. 
Samantha Allen — Full dress. Shawl and bonnet on head. 

Carries a lantern. At first it should be lit and later 

in her haste she forgets to light it. 
Mr. Allen and Mr. Brown should both be elderly men 

with whiskers and long coats. 
Amanda Coons and Mary Smith should be elderly wom- 
en. Both wear shawls and scarfs on heads; full 

dresses of calico. 
Rose Smith — Should be rather slender and not old, wears 

a coat and bonnet. 
Ann Jones — Should be dressed as Rose Smith and little 

stouter but also young. 
Maggie Black — Should be rather large and stout, dressed 

as the others. 

All should have their hair parted in the middle and 

brought back and fastened with combs. 
John White — A man about 40, quite well dressed. 
James Green — About 45, hair just turning gray, well 

dressed. Overcoat. 
Tom Casey — Short coat, a working man and, if possible, 

red hair. 



THE ADVENT OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM 

Scene I. Small room very scantily furnished. Elder- 
ly man seated at a small table. 

Sam Bowers: This is an awful night; no one would 
be out on night like this. (Knock on the door. Goes to 
the door.) Who is there? 

The Pedler (with pack on his back) enters. 

Pedler: Would you let me stay all night? I am so 
tired, and I will pay well for a night's lodging. Now don't 
turn me away as it would be death of me in this storm. 

Sam: Well, you can stay. I will see what I can do 
for you. 

Pedler puts down pack and is seated. 

Sam: It is now my bedtime and I will show you to 
bed. 

Pedler goes with him in the other room. Sam comes 
back and rummages pack. 

Sam: Well, I'll just put him down cellar and no one 
will ever know. Dead men tell no tales. 

Scene II. Same room. Cloth on table and another 
small table. Seated at table Mrs. Weekman knitting, and 
Mr. Weekman, reading. Raps on door. 

Mrs. Weekman: There, that is that rap again. I 
just will not stay here any longer. I have endured this 
long enough. I will go beside myself if we remain here 
this winter. 

(More raps.) 

Mr. Weekman: (Goes to door, opens it quickly, sees 
no one.) Well, we have looked this place over from top 
to cellar and there is no trace of any one or of anything 
possible that could produce that noise. The neighbors, 
too, have looked and hunted. (Seats himself). I have 
come to the conclusion that the place is haunted. (Pauses 
as in deep thought and looks at Mrs. W.) I think the best 
we can do is to move. I'm sure that I do not wish to stay 

7 



here where one can not sleep and where you hear groans 
and moans all night long. 

Mrs. Weekman: I will not stay the night. Let us go 
to Smith's for the night. 

(They get their things and go out.) 



Scene III. Same room with more chairs, a small bed 
and table. Cupboard. Present: Mr. Fox, Mrs. Fox 
(knitting) . David comes in with some wood on his arm. 
Cathy and Margaretta are helping their mother. 

Mr. Fox: We were fortunate in securing this house, 
as I looked everywhere for a house in this locality and 
this is the only one I could find. 

Mrs. Fox: I knew that if we trusted, the Lord would 
provide a way and this seems to be just what we need- 
ed. I do hope that it will not be as cold as the one we 
had in Canada. Let us pray for a blessing to come to 
us under this roof. Oh, I would that more of the 
blessed Truth might dawn upon you, John. 

(To herself) : That he might mend his ways and 
give his heart more wholly to the Lord. 

David: (Enters with armful of wood and throws it 
down.) Boo, but it is cold outside. 

Mrs. Fox: Be thankful, child, that you have a shel- 
ter to come to. You should thank the Lord for all your 
blessings. 

(Rap is heard on the door.) 

Mr. Fox: (Goes to door and finds no one there.) 
Well, what could that have been? 

Mrs. Fox: There may be a loose board and the wind 
is blowing it. (Another rap.) What is that? Are you 
sure that there is no one outside? 

Mr. Fox: (Goes and looks again.) No, there is no 
one there. I can not understand this at all. 

Mrs. Fox: Come children, it is time to go to bed. 
(All go out. Noise as of falling tins, and the moving of 
chairs.) 

Mrs. Fox: (Enters with pan as if to work.) After 
such a night I do not believe we can ever live here. But 
8 



where shall we go? There is no other house to be got- 
ten for miles around. 

Cathy: (With her apron in her hand.) Mother, what 
is it that is always knocking and wont let me sleep? It 
pulls the covers off the bed. I do not want to sleep up- 
stairs again. 

David: (Enters with bucket.) Well, I have the 
cows milked, but I tell you this is an awful house to 
live in. 

Mrs. Fox: It must be that there is a curse upon us. 
What have we done? David, you go over and get the 
Minister and maybe he can tell us what to do. (Exit 
David.) 

Cathy: Mamma, do only bad people have trouble like 
this? What makes me feel so queer every time that it 
knocks? 

Mrs. Fox: My dear child, you must pray that this 
be removed from us. Some of us have displeased the 
Lord, and I can not think that you are old enough to 
have done any great wrong. (Rap.) 

Cathy: There, now, it is again, and in the day-time, 
not at night this time. 

Mrs. Fox: Now run to school. (Cathy goes out.) 

(Knock at the door. Enter Rev. Higgins and David.) 

Mrs. Fox: I am so glad that you have come to us at 
this hour in our sorest need. I can not tell you but feel 
that you are the servant of the Lord, I thought that you 
might tell us what to do. There are knocks and raps 
and unearthly noises in the night all about the house. 
What can we do? What can we do? We can not sleep 
for it. And my poor innocent girls are so troubled. 
Surely they have not done anything that is wrong, to be 
thus tortured. Cathy, my youngest child, is so troubled 
— it pulls the covers off her in bed, and the poor child 
feels so strange every time it knocks. 

Rev. Higgins: Well, I am very sorry to hear this. 
There must be one in the family that has displeased the 
Lord. Some one who has not given his heart to the 
Lord, and the Devil has this way of letting you know 
that he is going to claim that soul. 

9 



Mrs. Fox (Excited) : It must be my poor John, as 
he has not as yet given his heart to the Lord. But he is 
such a good father and husband, he lives a very good life, 
he is so honest; will that not help him some? 

Rev. Higgins: No, my dear lady; the Lord exacts 
from us to be his servants and only his. We must see to 
have the good brother accept the Lord in order that you 
may be delivered from the divine anger. 

David: I thought that good deeds were pleasing in 
the sight of the Lord, and father is always doing some 
kind deed for some one. 

Rev. Higgins: But the Lord must have the soul of 
the man. He must come to the Lord in order to be 
saved. 

Mrs. Fox: What shall we do? I have wanted him to 
come to the Lord. He has no objection to my going to 
church and the children go to Sunday school, and some- 
times he will go with us, but he does not accept the Lord. 

Rev. Higgins: The only way I see will be to hold a 
prayer meeting here next Tuesday night. I will have 
some of the Faithful Brothers and Sisters come and pray 
with you, and we may be able to win his soul for the 
Lord. In the meantime pray for him and I will pray for 
you also. 

Mrs. Fox: I thank you so much, and we shall try 
to have all in readiness for the Prayer Meeting. I do 
hope that John will give his heart to the Lord! 

Rev. Higgins: I must now be going as I was on my 
way to see the sick widow, Mrs. Jones. So, good bye, 
and the Lord be with you. 

Mrs. Fox: Good bye, and may the Lord be praised 
for all the good you do, 

(Rev. Higgins goes out.) 

David: That does seem strange that the Lord should 
permit such things to happen when we have all accepted 
him but father, and he is so good. I do not understand it. 

Mrs. Fox (Excited): What is that you are saying, 
my child. The Devil is after you, too, putting such 
thoughts into your head. You should not doubt the 
word of the Minister. He is the servant of the Lord and 
10 



he understands the Holy Book and he should know. Is 
he not the shepherd to lead his flock aright? 

(Enter Cathy with book in her hand coming from 
school.) 

Cathy: Oh, Mamma, that big boy of Jones's met me 
and said that the preacher said that the Devil was in 
our house and we had to hold a prayer meeting to get 
him prayed out, and that his mother was coming over 
tonight to help them pray him out. What is the Devil, 
Mamma? 

Mrs. Fox (In astonishment) : The Devil is all that 
is bad. He is that thing that knocks around this house 
at night. 

Cathy: Oh, that is Mr. Devil, but he comes in the 
day, too. 

David: I don't know what to think about it. The 
strange thing is that it never breaks anything and yet 
makes such awful noises. 

(Enter Leah from other room with sewing in her hand.) 

Leah : We must get the house to rights for the prayer 
meeting. I wonder how many will come? 

Margaretta (Enters with books in her hand from 
school.) Mamma, the boys at school make all kinds of 
fun of me and say we have the Devil in our house and 
they throw snowballs at me. They say how our father 
is such a bad man. Is Papa bad? I love Papa anyway. 
He is so good to me. (Cries.) 

Mrs. Fox: Your father is not a bad man. 

(Enter Mr. Fox with ax in his hand from cutting 
wood.) 

Mr. Fox: How are all my children? Has it been 
well with you today? What is the matter, Margaretta? 
Come, tell Papa all about it. (Goes and puts his arms 
around her.) 

Margaretta (puts her head against her father and sobs) : 
The boys at school say that you are such a bad man ; that 
we have the Devil in our house; that the preacher must 
come to pray him out. Are you a bad man, papa? I 
like you because you are such a good papa. 

Mr. Fox (Petting her): No Margaretta; papa tries to 

11 



live right to his best understanding of right, and I try to 
love every body for the good there is within them. I do 
not know what is the cause of the knocks. But you and 
Cathy are my dear little girls and you must not think 
wrong of those children. They do not understand. They 
have heard some one say that. Just think kindly of them. 

(Cathy comes and puts her arms around her papa's 
neck). 

Cathy: But papa, they say that you are so very bad 
and that the Lord is punishing all of us until you are 
better; they don't know what a good papa you are. 

Mr. Fox: Never mind, little ones, the God I worship 
is a just God — a God of Love and He would not let his 
children suffer because they did not love him. 

Cathy: I knew, papa, that you loved God, but the boys 
say that you do not love the Lord? 

(Leah enters from other room with a lamp in her hand 
and sets it on the table). 

Leah: I do wish that there will be no unpleasant 
things happen to-night when the folks are here. How I 
wish that it was all over. 

(Knock at the door. Enter George Fish. Leah goes 
to the door). 

Mr. Fish: Good evening; I was passing and thought 
I would come in and give you a call. 

Leah: O, you are welcome. Come right in. We are 
to have a Prayer Meeting tonight; I hope that you can 
stay. (Mr. Fish seats himself.) 

Mr. Fish: Yes, I will stay, but as a rule I do not 
attend Prayer Meetings very often. I think that we can 
do good if we live the right kind of a life. 

(Knocks at door. Mary Smith enters). 

(Mrs. Smith is welcomed) : I am the Widow Smith, 
and I came being as I heard that you needed the prayers 
of the faithful and of those who can pray to the Lord. 

Mr. Fish: I think that there is much in prayer when 
rightly prayed from the soul. 

Mrs. Smith: Another one that we will have to con- 
vert tonight. You should not talk that way. You can 
never tell what imp may be around to put things in 
people's heads. 

12 



(Knock at the door. Mr. Fox goes to the door. Enter 
Rev. Higgins, Samantha Allen and Mr. Allen. While 
these are taking their seats and removing their things, 
Mr. G. Fish takes his place next to Leah and thus remains 
all the evening). 

Rev. Higgins: I do hope, Mr. Fox, that we shall be 
able to so call upon the Lord that he may deliver this 
house from all the Devil's power. (Rap is heard near the 
fireplace. All look frightened). 

Mr. Fox: There has been some unseen force trying 
to make itself known, but what it is we are unable to 
find out. . . 

Mrs. Smith: It's very plain to see what it is; it is the 
Devil trying to get the souls of men. Does not the Holy 
Bible say that he is going up and down the earth seeking 
whom he may devour? 

(Knocks. Enters Mrs. Amanda Coons and Mr. Brown. 
Greetings to all. Mr. Fox is introduced to them by the 
Rev. Higgins.) . 

Rev. Higgins: As we are all here, we had best begin 
the meeting. (Takes the Bible from the table and places 
it on the chair; getting it ready to read from. All kneel 
in prayer.) 

Rev. Higgins: (Repeats. Tune Arlington.) A charge 
to keep I have, a God to glorify. (They all sing.) 

Rev. Higgins: (Repeats.) A never dying soul to save, 
and fit it for the sky. (All sing.) 

(All kneel at their chairs or where they are, and Mr. 
Fish kneels at sofa.) 

(David kneels at a box near the fireplace; somewhat 
to himself.) 

Rev. Higgins: (Prays.) Oh, Lord we have come to 
ask you to take away from this house this Devil who is 
so strong with one of the members. Turn his heart to the 
Lord (Mrs. Smith groans) and bring Thy power to rest 
on all. (Raps heard in other room; Mrs. Allen very rest- 
less.) Thy power is greater than his. (Loud rap. Mr. 
Allen gets nervous.) Mr. Brown shouts. Amen! Amen! 
(Another rap. Mr. Fish takes Leah's hand.) 
Rev. Higgins: We thank the Lord for all that you have 

13 



done in the past; but we plead with you to save the soul 
of him who is the sinner to-night. (Loud raps. Mrs. Fox 
clasps her hands and bows her head. Mrs. Allen groans. 
Mrs. Smith wipes her eyes. Cathy leans over to her father 
who tries to soothe her. Loud raps. They all get up. ) 

Rev. Higgins: May the Lord come with his host of 
angels and overpower the Devil and his imps. (Loud 
raps. Mr. Brown shouts, Hallelujah.) We know that Thy 
power is greater than the Devil. (Raps.) 

Mrs. Allen: Praise the Lord. (More raps.) They all 
rise. 

Rev. Higgins: Let us sing. (Reads the first two lines, 
the others sing after him. They sing the second song.) 

Rev. Higgins: Let us sing (G. H., 1, 2, 3, 4.) 

''DEPTH OF MERCY" 
Depth of Mercy can there be, 
Mercy still reserved for me I 
Can my God His wrath forbear? 
Me, the chief of sinners, spare? 

Chorus: 
God is love; I know I feel. 
Jesus lives and loves me still; 
Jesus lives, he lives and loves me still. 

I have long withstood his grace, 
Long provoked him to his face. 
Would not hearken to his call. 
Grieved him by a thousand falls. 
Chorus : 

Now incline me to repent, (Raps) 
Let me now my sins lament; (Raps) 
Now my foul revolt deplore. 
Weep, believe, and sin no more. (Raps.) 

(All are excited. Mrs. Allen starts to go home.) 

Rev. Higgins: May the blessing of the Lord rest upon 

this house and protect it from all harm. (Rap.) Now, 

Sister Fox, I think that you will have no trouble to-night. 

Mrs. Smith: I am going home, as I do not wish to 

14 



remain under this roof any longer. I do not think we 
can do more. 

Mrs. Allen : I tell you I am nervous. Let's go. I pity 
the poor sister. What do you think they could have 
done, to draw the Devil to them with such power? (An- 
other rap.) Come, let's be going home. (Forgets to light 
lantern. ) 

Mrs. Fox bids them all good night, in the name of 
the Lord.) 

Mr. Fish (lingers with Leah) : Good night, Miss Fox; 
I will come over again. I am deeply interested. I think 
that there is more to this than just raps. Good night. 
(Goes and shakes hands with Mr. Fox.) Good night! 

Mrs. Fox (after all had gone) : Well, children, it is 
time we went to bed. (Leah and David start for the bed- 
rooms; Mr. Fox also.) Yes, my children, let us seek 
rest, and in the morning we shall all be able to do our 
work. Good night, Cathy! 

Cathy: I will not sleep upstairs; that noise won't let 
me sleep. 

David (Returns): Cathy, that's just the wind in the 
rafters. 

Cathy: Rafters nothing, I guess the winds don't pull 
the covers off you and let you get cold. I guess I know; 
I am not going up stairs. 

Mrs. Fox: Well, Cathy and Margaretta, you can sleep 
where mother will be near to hear you. I know that if 
you pray to the Lord he will protect you. I will get this 
bed ready for you. 

(Mrs. Fox brings in a pillow and quilt. Proceeds to 
make up bed. Cathy and Margaretta take off shoes and 
put on nighties.) 

Mrs. Fox: (Tucks them in bed.) Now, good night, 
dears, and ask the Lord to keep you thru the night. 

Children: Good night, mamma. 

Mrs. Fox: (Exit.) 

(Girls turn over in bed and cuddle to sleep. Blankets 
are pulled off. Silence. Raps and noise of falling tin. 
Raps.) 

Cathy: (Jumps up in bed.) Splitfoot, you do as I do. 

15 



(Claps hands. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Raps answer as she daps.) 

Cathy: Mamma, mamma; it hears. (Enter Mrs. Fox 
hurriedly.) Oh, mamma, it hears. Splitfoot, do as I do. 
(Moves her fingers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, but does not count out 
loud.) Oh, mamma, it sees! 

(Enter Leah and David partly dressed. Mr. Fox now 
comes in.) 

Margaretta: Splitfoot, how old is Cathy? (Raps 1,2, 
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.) He knows how old she is. How old 
am I? (Raps 11 times.) 

Margaretta (getting excited) : How old is David? 
(Raps 17 times.) 

Mrs. Fox: Count ten. (Raps 10.) Count 15. (Raps 
15.) 

Mr. Fox: If you are a human being who is making 
this noise, rap. (Silence.) It certainly knows what it 
is doing. Are you the Devil? (Silence.) Are you a 
man? (Silence.) What are you? (Raps.) 

Mrs. Fox: If you are the Devil why are you here? 
(Silence.) 

Cathy: Splitfoot, are you good? (Raps.) Did you 
come to tell us things? (Raps quickly and many times.) 

Margaretta: Can we sleep tonight? (Raps. All are 
excited.) 

Mrs. Fox: Children, let us all pray to the Lord to 
protect us from this Devil. (Raps.) Now children, let 
us go to bed. Girls, you had best come with me to- 
night. (All go out.) (Raps cease.) 

(Morning — Mrs. Fox enters. Also the family, one by 
one.) 

Mr. Fox: Good morning, my dear ones. I trust that 
during this day we shall all be able to do some good. 

Mrs. Fox: Praise the Lord. I do hope that the Devil 
will not come again. Here, David (gives him a pan), 
take this pan and get the candle and go down cellar and 
get the potatoes for dinner. (David goes to mantle and 
gets candle. Goes out. Curtain.) 

(A step ladder should be so arranged that David could 
be seen coming down the ladder, with pan and candle.) 
Half way down, raps are heard. David sits on steps and 
16 



puts his head in his hands, pan on his knees, candle on 
step. Rap. Raises his head quickly, as if thinking, and 
asks: Are you a spirit? If you are, rap three times? 
(Three raps.) If you are the spirit of the dead, rap 
three times; if not, rap once. (Three raps.) If you are 
the spirit of a human being who once lived on the earth 
can you give me your name? (Three raps.) If I call the 
alphabet, will you spell your name? (Three raps.) 

He repeats a, b, c, (Three raps). David gets paper 
out of his pocket and a very short pencil and writes "C". 
Repeats d, e, f, g, h, (Three raps) . Writes "h". Repeats 
a, (Three raps). Writes "a". Repeats b, c, d, e, f, g, 
h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p, q, r, (Three raps). Writes |'r". 
Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, (Three raps) . Writes 
"1". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, (Three raps). Writes "e". 
Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, 
Three raps). Writes "s". Repeats a, b, (Three raps.) 
Writes "B". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, 
o, p, q, r, (Three raps). Writes "R". Repeats a, b, c, 
d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, (Three raps). Writes "o". 
Repeats p, q, r, s. (Three raps). Writes "s". Repeats 
a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, (Three raps). Writes "m". 
Repeats a, (Three raps). Writes "a". All excitement, 
he runs upstairs and forgets the pan and candle. (Draw 
curtain quickly exposing the other room.) 

David: (Rushes in with paper in his hand.) I know 
who it is that makes that noise. Look what it told me. 
Here is its name. (Spells: C-h-a-r-1-e-s B. R-o-s-m-a.) 

Mr. Fox: Let us see, son, what you have. (David 
hands over paper to his father who looks at it.) Why, 
that is Charles B. Rosma. I wonder who that could be? 

David: (Much excited.) It told me that it was the 
spirit of a dead man. 

Cathy: Then it is not the Devil, or even Splitfoot. 
Let us call it "Charlie". 

Mrs. Fox: Oh, what will become of us. A dead man 
come to disturb us like this! We will have to have the 
minister here again. 

Enter Mr. Fish: Good day, my good friends, and how 
are you all today? 

17 



Mr. Fox: David has solved the problem and he has 
found that the cause of the noises is a spirit of a dead 
man and that his name was Charles B. Rosma. 

Mr. Fish: I have always thought that there was 
some wonderful thing to be revealed to us. Maybe there 
is some important message that he would give us, if we 
could only know how to get the rest of it. 

Cathy: I know ^'Charlie" will talk if I ask him. I 
feel so queer again. Let's be still. (Raps.) Bows her 
head. Quickly raises her head and says: ''I know. Let's 
have a new kind of prayer meeting tonight." 

Mrs. Fox: Child, what is it you would have us do? 
Pray to the Devil never to come into this house again? 

Cathy: Mamma, it is not the Devil. It is "Charlie". 

(Knocks at door. Mr. Fox opens it. Enter Tom 
Casey.) 

Casey: Good evening to ye. I thought I'd be comin' 
to see the ghosts that they are all talking about as to how 
they groans and makes noises. 

Mr. Fish: Are you not afraid? 

Tom Casey: Afraid, is it. I was that. But me 
curiosity is greater than me fear. 

(Knocks at door. Enter Amanda Coons. Leah goes 
to door. After greetings to all, takes off her things.) 

Amanda Coons: I came tonight to see if you were to 
hold another Prayer Meeting. 

Cathy: Yes, we will hold a new kind of meeting and 
"Charlie" will come. 

Mrs. Fox: Hush child, you don't know what you are 
talking about. 

Cathy: Yes I do; he told me so. 

(Knocks at door. Enter Mr. John White, Rose Smith, 
Ann Jones.) 

John White: We came on a dare with these ladies. 
They are very desirous of hearing the ghosts talk. 

Mr. Fish: It has been discovered that there is intelli- 
gence back of these raps and knocks. 

Ann Jones: Do the ghosts talk? Will we see them? 

Cathy: "Charlie" is no ghost. He can talk. He said 
he would talk. 
18 



(Knock at door. Enter James Green. Exchanges 
greetings with all.) 

Rose Smith: So you have forsaken the narrow path 
and have come, too, to see what you could see and hear 
from this unseen power? 

James Green: Oh, I don't know. If there is anything 
to learn I am there. I think that there are powers 
greater than we understand about the human mind. And 
it may all be just the reflection of our thought. You 
know Mesmer has discovered that we can place one in 
a state of subjection where he will do just what we tell 
him and this may be only another way to give out our 
own thought. Who can tell? 

Mr. Fish: I have read something about that. But in 
Mesmer's discovery you must have a living human being 
on which to operate and that person can then do your 
bidding. 

Margaretta: But David talked to it down in the cel- 
lar. 

(Knock. Enter Maggie Black a little out of breath. 
(She should be fat.) Exchanges greetings with all, takes 
off her things, gives them to Leah.) 

Cathy: This will make a nice Prayer Meeting. 

Mrs. Fox: Child, did I not tell you to be still about 
that prayer meeting. 

Mr. Fox: The child may be able to give us instruc- 
tions. Is it not written that "a little child shall lead them." 

Mr. Casey: Now in my grandmother's time in Ire- 
land they'd say as ghosts will talk to you, if you ax 
them in the name of the Lord, and pray that no evil 
come to you. And the chile may be right. 

Cathy: I know. Let us sit at the table. 

David: Let us get some paper so it can answer ques- 
tions. 

Cathy: Put your hands so. (All place their hands on 
the table as she directs.) 

Mr. Fox: Let us sing "Beulah Land." (All sing first 
verse.) 

Cathy: Is Charlie here? (Three raps. Claps her 
hands.) I knew he would come. 

19 



David: Will you talk to us? (Three raps.) 
(David repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, (Three raps). 
Writes"!". Repeats a, (Three raps). Writes "a". Re- 
peats, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, (Three raps). 
Writes "m". (Ann Jones gets excited. Casey smiles and 
says that is: 'T am". I wonder who he is?) David: n. o, 
p, q, r, s, t, (raps). Writes "t". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, 
g, h, (Three raps). Writes "h". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, 
(Three raps). Writes "e". Repeats: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, 
i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s. (Three raps). Writes "s". 
Repeats f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p, (Three raps). 
Writes "p". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, 
(Three raps). Writes "i". Repeats j, k, 1, m, ,n o, p, q, 
r, (Three raps). Writes "r". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, g, 
h, i, (Three raps). Writes "i". Repeats j, k, 1, m, n, o, 
p, q, r, s, t, (Three raps). Writes "t". Repeats a, b, c, 

d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, (Three raps). Writes "o". 
Repeats a, b, c, d, e, f, (Three raps). Writes "f". Re- 
peats a, (Three raps). Writes "a". Repeats a, b, c, d, e, 
f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p, (Three raps). Writes "p". 
Repeats a, b, c, d, e, (Three raps). Writes "e". Re- 
peats a, b, c, d, (Three raps). Writes "d". Repeats 

e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, (Three raps). Writes "1". Repeats 
a, b, c, d, e, (Three raps). Writes "e". Repeats a, b, c, 
d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, 1, m, n, o, p, q, r, (Three raps). 
Writes "r". 

Tom Casy: What did it say? I tell you me curiosity 
is getting the best of me. 

James Green: Tell us, David, what you have written? 

(David hands him the paper. Green looks at it and 
then reads: 'T am the spirit of a pedler." 

Mr. Casey: What can a pedler be after telling us? 
A pedler, what does he want? May be he cheated some 
one and he'd be after askin us to have a Mass said for 
his soul. (Very loud raps.) 

David: That's not it. One rap means "no." 

Cathy: Let "Charlie" talk. Put your hands on the 
table and see what he will say. (Raps on the table and 
the table moves slightly.) 
20 



Ann Jones: Did you feel that it is moving the table? 
Oh, I am really afraid. 

Casey: Afraid of what? Sure that pedler could not 
hurt anyone. I have me curiosity so aroused that I 
want to know what he will have to say for himself. 

Mrs. Fox: (Who has not been at the table.) I 
feel that we should not try to meddle with these things. 
We are, I fear, meddling with the Lord's work. He has 
charge of the dead. 

David: See it is moving Cathy's hand. It wants to 
write. Here, take this pencil and paper. Maybe it will 
write. (Three raps.) 

Cathy: I feel so queer. (Takes pencil and her hand 
trembles; then slowly makes marks, then starts to 
write.) 

Margaretta: I see it is writing. (All watch her hand.) 

Mr. Green: (Reads the message.) 'T was murdered 
and buried in the cellar of this house." 

All: "Buried in the cellar. No wonder that he made 
noises." 

Ann Jones: I would not live in this house with a 
pedler buried in the cellar. 

Cathy: Look, it is wanting to write again (Showing 
her trembHng hand). 

David: (Gives her the pencil.) There, maybe he 
will say something more. 

Mr. Green: This certainly was not in our minds. I 
wonder who thought that? I wonder if it could have 
been that some of us did think what the child wrote, 

Mr. Fish: I think that there will be many things for 
us to learn. It seems to me that we have tapped a foun- 
tain of knowledge and no one can tell what may be the 
outcome. 

David: Look how it is writing. I'll watch the writ- 
ing. (Rose Smith has her hands clasped as though afraid.) 

(Maggie Black looks under the table to see if any- 
thing is wrong. Raps are heard.) 

Maggie Black: Oh, that thing saw me looking for it. 

Tom Casey: Did you think that you saw a ghost? 

21 



I don't understand myself how it talks and you can't 
see the thing. 

Mr. Green: Well, little girl, what has it written? 
(Takes the paper and reads.) "We come to the children 
of earth to bring peace to their minds, to overcome fear, 
to overthrow superstition, to awaken them to the power 
of the mind, to prove the existence of conscious life be- 
yond the grave. There is no death. We live and are with 
you watching over our dear ones. Proclaim the glad tid- 
ings that all live and love. Men shall be freed from 
fear. Many shall teach and heal the sick, and bring joy 
where sorrow now exists. Come together often in love 
and we shall come to you." 

Mr. Green: This is not from any of our minds; it 
must be what it says it is. (Three raps.) If it can 
write I wonder if it will tell us more. (Three raps.) 

Maggie Black: I wonder if that is for me? (Three 
raps.) Who is it? 

Cathy: Maybe it is your mother. If a pedler comes 
back why not your mamma? 

Maggie Black: Is it father? (One rap.) Is it moth- 
er? (Three raps.) So Mother lives. Can you tell me 
something? (Three raps.) Are you happy? (Three 
raps.) Oh, what a comfort. Are you at rest? (Three 
raps.) 

Tom Casey: If a soul is in purgatory how can it 
come here? That sets me to thinking. Is me father 
here? (Three raps.) Are you in heaven? (Two raps.) 
Why, that is neither yes or no. Where can he be then? 

Michel Riley, are you in suffering? You were such a 
rough here. (One rap.) I thought sure you would be in 
the hot place. 

Cathy: I feel so queer. I am so sleepy. (Raps are 
heard on the floor.) 

Ann Jones: Is John here? (Silence.) Frank? 
(Three raps ) 

Rose Smith: I shall try to see if some will come to 
me. Is mother here? (Three raps.) 

David: I think they wont rap much longer. Cathy, 
see if they will rap. 
22 



Cathy: I hear "Charlie" say "Good Night." 

Mr. Fox: Will you rap for us? (Silence.) 

Mr. Green: We shall come again tomorrow night and 
see if they will talk to us. Just see what time it is. 
Here it is 11 o'clock. 

Mr. Fish: I am so glad I came as we have discovered 
something that will be the means of overturning many 
ideas of life concerning the future state. 

(All get their things and start home.) 

Mr. Fish: Leah, I shall come often to see what 
wonderful things can be revealed to us, and rest as- 
sured that I shall always be your friend. 

Mr. Fox: I now know that we live on and that this 
short span of life is but a preparation for something great- 
er. Let us all so live that we may be worthy of the 
presence of dear ones with us at all times. Good Night. 
(Shakes hands with all as they go out.) 

Leah: Well, Cathy, your Prayer Meeting was a suc- 
cess. Can it be there is life beyond the grave? 

Mrs. Fox: Now, children, let's not talk about it for 
fear it may come back. It is time we went to bed. 

Mr. Fox: I feel like praising God for letting this won- 
derful power come to our dear baby girl. What a field 
of thought this will open to many sorrowing souls of 
earth. And if they can heal the sick that will be like 
it was in Christ's time — healing by the spirit. Surely 
God is good to us. 

David: I wonder if there will be different ways that 
this power will make itself known. 

Cathy: I guess that every mother and father will try 
to come to their children in their own way. I have seen 
"Charlie." And I can hear him. He writes and raps 
and moves things, so why not in other ways. 

Mrs. Fox: Come, children, let us go to bed. 

Mr. Fox: Yes, we must retire and praise God for 
all these blessings that will come to others. 

Cathy: I wonder if "Charlie" will pull the bedclothes 
off tonight. 

Margaretta: We. will say, Good night. 

Mrs. Fox: I feel so thankful to God that I want to 

23 



sing before we retire for the night. All sing the "Other 
World." No. 27 in Spiritualist Hymnal. 

1 It lies around us like a cloud, 

A world we do not see, 
Yet the sweet closing of an eye. 

May bring us there to be. 
Its gentle breezes fan our cheeks 

Amid our worldly cares; 
Its gentle voices whisper love. 

And mingle with our prayers. 

2 Sweet hearts around us throb and beat. 

Sweet helping hands are stirred, 
And palpitates the veil between 

With breathing almost heard. 
So soft, so sweetly do they glide. 

So near to press they seem. 
They lull us gently to our rest, 

They melt into our dream. 

3 And in the hush of rest they bring, 

'Tis easy now to see. 
How lovely and how sweet a pass. 

The hour of death may be. 
Scarce knowing if we wake or sleep, 

Scarce asking where we are; 
To feel all evil sink away. 

All sorrow and all care. 

4 Sweet souls around us watch us still, 

Press nearer to our side. 
Into our thoughts, into our prayers. 

With gentle helpings glide. 
Let death between us be as naught, 

A dried and vanished stream. 
Your joy be a reality , 

Our suffering life the dream. 



(Curtain.) 



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